Im-Port-ant win for United

United replicated their 3-1 success against the Ports in August as goals from Richard Gibson, Nathan Hanley and Gary McCutcheon helped improve United's chequered home record and keep Ballymena at the right end of the table, in fifth position.

"It's brilliant when you get a result like that and your twin strikers get a goal each. If you were writing the script that's what you would hope for," said manager Roy Walker afterwards.

"But for me the best player on the pitch was Albert Watson. You need a platform in which to play and particularly in the second half, his performance was exemplary.

"We started really well, then we seemed to go into a wee lull and Portadown came back into it.

I thought we completely controlled the second half. They played in front of us when they had possession but they didn't play behind us.

"The only danger was that we would lose a stupid free kick and somebody would hurt us but we should have scored more goals in the second half."

Ballymena started the game like a steam train and were rewarded with a goal inside the opening five minutes.

Gary McCutcheon received a throw-in from Aaron Stewart in the left-hand corner and when the striker slipped the ball back to Stewart, the full-back provided an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Richard Gibson, who beat keeper Neil Armstrong with a firm downward header from six yards.

"Archie had a very specific job to do – that was why he was in the team and Lee Colligan was left out – but it came good and the bonus was his cross for the goal."

Within seven minutes, however, the visitors were level with a virtual carbon copy, from the opposite side of the pitch. Northern Ireland international Kevin Braniff bought himself a yard of space and provided a teasing cross which Wes Boyle could not fail to head home.

Ballymena failed to build on their flying start and Portadown had the better of the remainder of the first half, albeit without causing Dwayne Nelson too many anxious moments, although Boyle headed another effort just over the bar when he should have scored.

Portadown were still looking the more likely side to score until Ballymena hit them with a huge blow on 68 minutes.

Albert Watson sprayed a crossfield pass to the left wing where Eamonn Murray firstly flicked the ball over the head of full-back Sean Mackle and then left him for dead before cutting the ball back for the in-rushing Nathan Hanley to fire high into the net – classic attacing midfield play, arriving late in the penalty area.

"Nathan showed up at the appointed time and popped it into the roof of the net.

"The boys worked hard on crossing and finishing during the week and it's no coincidence that things the players are seeing on Tuesday and Thursdays are becoming habitual come Saturday," Roy.

There was still some work to be done for United but their task was made slightly easier by the dismissal of Portadown Shane McCabe, whose feisty midfield tussle with Hanley produced three incidents which led to yellow cards, with two of them going to McCabe.

And United fans were finally able to celebrate a rare home victory in stoppage time when Gibson flicked a long Nelson clearance into the path of McCutcheon and he skipped past a weak challenge from Henry McStay before firing over Armstrong and into the net.

It was a happy moment in the short-term as it wrapped up the victory but it may also have the added knock-on effect of sparking another run of goals from the little Scot, whose scoring touch has deserted him in recent weeks.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Surgenor, Watson, Gage, Stewart (sub Colligan 90+2), Smith, Haveron, Hanley, Murray, McCutcheon, Gibson. Subs (not used): McDowell, McNeill, Young, Boyd.

Portadown: Armstrong, Mackle (sub McStay 70), O'Hara, Ramsey, Redman, Mouncey, Clarke (sub McCafferty 73), McCabe, Teggart (sub Lecky 78), Boyle, Braniff. Subs (not used): Miskelly, Baker.

Referee: Colin Burns (Comber).